Prof. David Flusser's biography of the life of Jesus is the
fruit of more than fifty years of persona1 research concerning what may be
considered the most well-known figure of the Second Temple Period. His
philological-historical approach calls for a reconsideration of how we read the
literary sources. He brings to bear the wealth of new information regarding the
first century setting in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls, historical inquiry, and
recent archaeological discoveries. What results is a compelling portrait of
Jesus which gains additional depth because it is viewed wit& the context of
Jewish though and Life in the first century.

Both Jewish and Christian readers
will be challenged by the results of Flusser's study. The present work is based
upon author's 1968 edition of Jesus. Yet, with the passage of 30 years, the new
volume has been essentially rewritten to incorporate the wealth of new data.
Whereas the previous book, now out of print, represented the beginnings of
Flusser's investigation into the historical Jesus, the present volume is its
culmination.

About
the Author -- Jesus

David Flusser ---

(1917-2000) A laureate of Israel Prize, Prof. David Flusser was a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and taught Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His best-known book, Jesus, was translated into eleven languages.

Hostility towards the Jews is not a Christian invention, but it
has been grossly intensified by Christianity; and Christian anti-Judaism is only
slowly disappearing. Well-intentioned friends of the Jews often say, "If we had
lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in
shedding the blood of the Jews" (cf. Matt. 23:30ff.). For obviously apologetic
reasons, pseudo-historical constructions are added to excuse the terrible
sufferings of the Jews at the hands of the Christians as a lapse. This theory is
passed on, and the Jewish participant in the discussion is expected to live
happily with the well-intentioned excuse. This might perhaps be bearable, but
how is a researcher to react to it ? Unfortunately it can easily happen that i f
he is Jewish, and his scientific conscience does not permit him to accept
gratefully the "anti-Judaistica" in the New Testament as "prophetic rebukes,"
his Christian colleague may become aggressive! Should the Jewish researcher
therefore deny the simple truth that speaks in the texts, just for the sake of
preserving peace?

However, we do not want to deal here with general questions. We
shall show, by means of one example, how the original fact of the sympathy of
the Jewish people for the crucified Jesus was turned at a very early stage into
the hostility of the mocking crowds. If we succeed in revealing this change in
tendency in the scriptures we shall touch a sore point . . .

Reviews

"Flusser is not only brilliant, and thoroughly familiar with all classical sources, Jewish sources, and later Christian sources that bear on our understanding of Jesus; he is also passionately concerned that the historical Jesus be taken seriously. He readily admits that he, an observant Jew, personally identifies himself with the worldview of Jesus, both moral and political: 'The content of his teachings and approach of Jesus has the potential to change the world and prevent the greatest part of evil and suffering.' For years I have been recommended it as the best book on Jesus available. No better way to discover the Jewishness of Jesus and possible links to Qumran than to read this book."

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